Swiss National Day

August 1 is Swiss National Day. The first celebration was in 1891, commemorating the 600th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation. In early August 1291, the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden signed the Federal Charter of 1291. The day did not officially become a national holiday until 1994, after a vote on 26 September 1993.

The day is celebrated with fireworks, bonfires, and parades. At the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen, there is a "Fire on the Rocks" fireworks display (which takes place the night before, July 31). The falls are illuminated during the display. A festival is held on the Rhine (also on July 31) at Basel. It includes fireworks, taverns and stalls, and musical performances. The celebration at Rütli includes a reading of the Rütlischwur, the oath of alliance which was taken at Rütli. In Zürich, a procession and festival are held.

My 3rd-great-grandfather Davidson Binkley is believed to be a descendant of Peter Binkley (also Binggeli and Binckele), who was born in Guggisberg, Canton Bern, Switzerland on 2 March 1704 and came to Pennsylvania in 1736.

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About Me

I have been researching my family history since 2006. I was born and raised in New Jersey. Some of my ancestors lived in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, but most of my United States ancestors lived in the South (Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky) or the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Missouri). One branch of my family lived in Canada. My European ancestors were from Germany, Norway, Sweden, Scotland, England, and Ireland.